Narrow rock cutting trencher

ABSTRACT

A narrow rock cutting trencher having a single disk rotatably captured about a framework, and having inwardly opening trench forming buckets disposed about the outer periphery of the disk. An arc plate cooperates with the buckets so as to transport material from the trench into an overhead position as the apparatus progresses along the ground.

United States Patent 1 1 Evans [111 3,729,231 [4 1 Apr. 24, 1973 1NARROW ROCK CUTTING TRENCHER [75] Inventor: Clifford J. Evans, GlenRose, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Shields-Jetco, Inc., Dallas, Tex.

22 Filed: Apr. 19, 1971 21 App]. No.: 135,213

[52] U.S. C1. ..299/7, 37/95, 37/195,

I 299/39, 299/67 [51] Int. Cl. 1. ..E02f 5/08 M [58 Field of Search..299/7, 39;

37/94 DIG. 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,826,839 3/1958 Kolbe..37/97 X 1,455,608 5/1923 Duder ..37/D1G.2 3,203,188 8/1965 Evans..37/96X 1,244,006 10/1917 Wadsworth ..37/D1G.2

Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser AltorneyMarcus L. Bates 1 57] ABSTRACTA narrow rock cutting trencher having a single disk rotatably capturedabout a framework, and having inwardly opening trench forming bucketsdisposed about the outer periphery of the disk. An arc plate cooperateswith the buckets so as to transport material from the trench into anoverhead position as the apparatus progresses along the ground.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5m m fi 33 MJLA N U /FC F R 1 mm Y .5

' Patented April 24, 1973 3,729,231

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVEN TOE- CLIFFORD J. EVANS MARCUS L. BATES H/S AGENTNARROW ROCK CUTTING TRENCHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Formation of atrench through rock and rock-like strata of the earth is usuallyaccomplished by the employment of explosives wherein a longitudinallyextending ragged elongated opening is formed into the surface of theearth. The use of explosives is expensive, and often such usage isprohibitive, especially where the trench must be formed in highlypopulated areas, or adjacent to sensitive industrial sites.

Prior art devices for excavating a narrow trench through soil orrelatively soft strata have been proposed for the formation of trenchesmeasuring eight inches or less in width. However, formation of a trenchthrough rock or rock-like strata, wherein the trench measures 8 inchesor less in width, has not heretofore been completely successful becausethe massive structure required for imparting sufficient power into thedigging means leaves insufficient width by which conventional means canbe employed for transporting the commuted rock from the bottom of theditch to another location.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a trenching machine having adigging wheel associated therewith which can support a narrow bucketwhich is substantially no wider than its supporting structure, and atthe same time the bucket has means associated therewith for transportingthe commuted material from the bottom of the trench to another location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly, the present invention encompassestrenching apparatus for attachment to a prime mover. The trenchingapparatus includes a framework in the form of a supporting structurewhich is adjustably affixed to the prime mover, with the frameworkrotatably capturing and supporting an annular disk which is circumferentially disposed thereabout to thereby present a mechanism whichis unusually narrow in cross-section, and which accordingly enables theformation of a trench of extremely narrow cross-section.

More specifically, a plurality of U-shaped inwardly opening buckets areattached by one sidewall thereof to the outer peripheral edge portion ofthe disk, and a suitable rock cutting and digging means is attached tothe individual buckets. The buckets are therefore radially disposed inan outward direction with respect to the disk and aligned in a commonplane with respect to the supporting structure.

Means connected to the framework cooperate with the buckets so as toenable material scooped up by the bucket to be transported into anelevated position, whereupon the material is dumped from the bucket intoa chute and transported to a location away from the trench.

Several different embodiments of the bucket are set forth so as toenhance the operation of the apparatus as it digs in different typestrata through which the trench is to be formed.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to providedigging apparatus having an extremely small cross-sectional area tothereby form a longitudinally extending trench of minimum width.

Another object of this invention is to provide trenching apparatus inthe form ofa single disk which is rotatably captured by structure, withbuckets having digging means attached thereto being disposed about theouter peripheral surface of the disk.

A further object of this invention is to provide a digging wheel havingbuckets supported by a single disk-like member so as to enable removalof a narrow elongated portion of the earth.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvednarrow digging wheel having a bucket width substantially equal to thecross-sectional width of its supporting structure to thereby enable atrench of the smallest possible width to be formed.

These and other objects of the present invention are attained by theprovision of a new combination of elements broadly fabricated in amanner essentially as set forth in the above abstract and summary.Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detaileddescription and claims in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a general side elevationalview showing the present invention in its operative configuration;

F IG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatical representation which sets forth apart cross-sectional view so as to disclose the essence of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a reduced diagrammatical representation which discloses a sideview ofthe device seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed side elevation view of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, and sets forth one of the teachings of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a modification of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 sets forth another modification of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of the apparatus of FIGS. 59;

FIG. 11 is a modification of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of apparatus disclosedin part of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 13 is a top plan view which diagrammatically illustrates a methodof forming a large trench by the use of the present invention inconjunction with other digging apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Throughout thisspecification, wherever possible, like or similar numerals refer to likeor similar elements.

FIG. I generally sets forth apparatus for forming a trench within thesurface 12 of the ground, with the apparatus being comprised of a primemover 11, which can take on several different known forms, and to whichthere is adjustably attached trenching apparatus 10 made in accordancewith the present invention.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, which broadly set forth the essence of the presentinvention, there is disclosed an annular plate member 15, hereinaftercalled afdisk, which is rotatably captured by support structure 16. Thesupport structure is in turn supported by spaced apart beams 16 havingfree depending ends which are attached by any of several known means toany suitable prime mover. A plurality'of spaced apart journaled trucks17 bear against the inside peripheral wall, or innermost edge portion,of the disk so as to maintain the disk properly aligned with respect tothe remaining structure. I

Radially spaced about the outer extremity of the disk, and attachedthereto, are a plurality of buckets 18, having any suitable diggingmeans affixed thereto. The buckets are disposed in a manner to cut awayand remove dirt in order to form a trench or ditch 19.

Center line 20 of the apparatus preferably is aligned with the center ofthe buckets as well as the driving means so as to equally distribute thevarious loads associated with the apparatus, and to present a minimumprofile in cross-section.

A chute 21 is attached to the before mentioned support structure and isdisposed in underlying relationship with respect to the uppermostbuckets. Member 22,, hereinafter called an arc plate" provides meanscooperative with the buckets" for enabling material to be transferredfrom the trench to another location. The are plate is-circumferentiallydisposed outwardly of the disk and inwardly of the bucket cavity whereit prevents material from falling from a bucket until the bucket hasassumed an overhanging relationship with respect to the chute. Themember is affixed at several different attachment points to the supportstructure.

It is desirable that the structure width at 16 be substantially equal toor smaller than the effective width of the trench formed by the buckets,and that the bucket and structure be located in the same verticalplane,.so as to enable an extremely narrow ditch to be dug by theapparatus while utilizing minimum power requirements.

Looking now to more of the details of the apparatus, and in particularto FIG. 4, in conjunction with FIGS. I-3 and 5, the trucks 17 are seento be rotatably mounted by a yoke which transfers its load to a mountingpad, with the pad being attached to the support structure. The supportstructure preferably is a boxedin reinforced member comprised of spacedapart reinforced plate members, all of which forms a unitized uniquestructure, and which is rigidly attached to the spaced apart beams 16.Member 116 and 216 provide means by which the beams are supported fromthe prime mover. Arc plate 22 commences at 122 and continuescircumferentially about the disk into close proximity of the chute wherethe member terminates at 122. The arc plate lies closely adjacent to thedischarge opening formed in each bucket so as to provide a seal inconjunction therewith in a manner as best illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7, and8.

A power takeoff means connected from the prime mover drives chain24,'which in turn drives gear 25, with the gear teeth being meshed withthe illustrated sprocket teeth 26. The teeth 26 outwardly depend in a.

lateral direction from a vertical face of plate member 27, with theplate member being welded to the before mentioned disk so as to provide360 of effective teeth. The disk is welded to one vertically disposedside 28 of the bucket, with the bucket being curved at 29 to form areversed bend so as to leave the freely depending wall 30 parallel tothe fixed or attached wall 15, and to form a material receiving cavitytherein. Edge portion 31 ter minates short of plate member 27 so as toleave an inwardly disposed discharge opening 32 of a sufficient size topermit large rocks which may be contained within the interior 33 of thebucket to flow therethrough in an unobstructed manner.

As particularly seen in FIG. 5, the plate member 27 is welded in anoff-set manner to the disk, and the illustrated outwardly and inwardlysloped shield member 127 is disposed respective to the sprocket andteeth so as to preclude contamination thereof with debris. Arc plate 322includes vertical portion 222 which form right angles with respect toone another. The plate 27 is contoured at 128 so as to avoid hold-up ofmaterial within the bucket as gravity causes the material to flowtherefrom when the bucket is inverted and ready to be dumped.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, bulkhead 34 can be removably attached to thebucket by means of the fasteners 35, or alternatively, the bulkhead canbe received within grooves which are formed in the vertical side wallsof the bucket in the illustrated manner of FIG. 9, with any suitablefastener means being employed to maintain the bulkhead properly seatedwithin the grooves.

Where deemed desirable, the sprocket 26 can be attached by means of theillustrated off-set plate 127, so as to more closely arrange the centerline of the bucket in aligned relationship with respect to the drivesprocket and with respect to the spaced apart walls of the supportstructure.

As an alternate embodiment, the arc plate 22 can be made in theillustrated manner of FIG. 8 so as to provide a discharge opening whichcan be made as large as the effective bucket diameter, if deemeddesirable. The are plate is in the form of a right angle and is seen tohave a horizontal and vertical component disposed at right angles withrespect to each other, with the vertical component lying closelyadjacent to edge portion 131 while the remaining free edge portion ofthe arc plate lies closely adjacent to the disk.

Looking now to the details of FIG. 10, the previously illustratedbulkhead 34 is seen to have been removed from the bucket, and aplurality of upstanding fingers 40 substituted therefor. The fingers areattached to the inside peripheral surface of the bucket at 41, with thefingers having a free end portion 42 which terminate below the free edgeportion 31 and are disposed well within the interior of the bucket. Astationary plate member 43 is attached to the support structure of theapparatus in the general area indicated by the arrow at numeral 45.Member 43 includes a plurality of vertically upstanding fixed fingers 46which cooperate together to form a cutout 47 so as to enable each of themovable fingers 40 to pass through the cutout 47.

FIG. 11 discloses a member having an arm 48 from which paddle 49depends, and which is attached to the superstructure in the vicinity ofthe area generally illustrated by the arrow at numeral 49 in FIG. 4.

Looking now to the details of FIG. 12, the digging means are seen to bein the form of teeth which are attached to the bucket by means of aholder device 60. The holder removably affixes a single rock breakingand digging tooth to the bucket. The teeth preferably are made inaccordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,471, and are affixed to the bucketin an alternate arrangement, such as set forth in FIGS. 6-8, with theholder device being progressively offset from center as seen at 60, 61,and 62. It is preferred that the tooth pattern be repeated in cycles offive teeth, with 25 buckets being arranged about the disk.

FIG. 13 discloses two spaced apart narrow rock cutting trencherapparatus 10, 10, each being made in accordance with the presentinvention, and each being attached to a prime mover so as to enable thesimultaneous formation of two parallel spaced apart trenches 12, 12. Aconventional large trencher 111 follows behind, removing the strata frombetween the trenches 12, so as to form the wider ditch disclosed atnumeral 112. i

In operation, the spaced apart beams 16' are adjustably attached at 116to the prime mover so as to enable end portion 116 of the beam to bemoved vertically as may be required. Cable 55 is adjustably attached tomast 216 to complete the four point suspension of the trenchingapparatus.

As the prime mover imparts rotational motion into the disk, itsimultaneously moves along the ground longitudinally of the ditch in theusual manner. Gear 25 engages the sprocket 26 to cause the disk torotate relative to the support structure, whereupon the rock cuttingteeth engage the upper strata of the earths surface, and removesincrements thereof so as to form a narrow trench or ditch. As thedigging teeth reduce the strata into smaller particles, the resultingdebris is scooped into the inlet end of the buckets and carried into theoverhead position where gravity causes the debris to be transferred intothe hopper; and the debris then flows along chute 21.

As the debris flow down the chute 21, the fines are separated from thecourse material by screan means 50, with the larger particles continuingalong plate 51 and towards the end of the chute. Accordingly, fines aredeposited at 52 while the larger size material is deposited at 53. Thisexpedient provides a dust-like material for bedding tubular goods withinthe ditch. Hence, conduits such as plastic pipe or cable can be placedwithin the trench, the fines deposited over the pipe, after which theremaining debris can be used as backfill in the usual manner.

It will be noted that the arc plate can take on several different forms,such as specifically illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8. The L-shaped arcplate of FIGS. 5 and 8 are the preferred form since this embodimentadmits the usage of a discharge opening which is larger than the widthof the discharge opening of the bucket.

Regardless of the specifics of the arc plate, it will be appreciatedthat the presence of this member is essential for the proper operationof the apparatus since it slidably and sealingly cooperates with thesidewalls of the bucket so as to capture material contained therein asthe debris aretransported from the trench into an overlying relationshipwith respect to the hopper.

Where the moisture content of the material being removed to form thetrench refuses to flow from the bucket, it is advantageous to employ theapparatus of FIG. in lieu of the buckets disclosed in the previousfigures. The member 43 is attached to structure of the hopper nearnumeral 45 so as to enable the fingers to remove the material from thebucket as it reaches an overlying position relative to the chute.

, Upon encountering mud or wet soil, it is expedient to employ theapparatus of FIG. 11 in conjunction with a bucket, such as disclosed'inFIG. '5, wherein it will be noticed that the bulkhead 34 has beenremoved from the bucket. The paddle 49 is attached by portion 48 to thehopper structure as illustrated at 49 in FIG. 4. Those skilled in theart will realize that the interior of the bucket will be filled withmud, although there is no bulkhead attached to the bucket.

It will be appreciated that the requirements of a narrow ditch demandthat the structure 16 be of a minimum size, and that the structure haveassociated therewith journal means as exemplified by the illustratedtrucks. By employment of a single set of circumferentially extendingtrucks, each arranged in a common plane, and journaled to and supportedby a support structure of a width equal to or less than the bucketwidth, a rock cutting apparatus is provided which can cut a trench ofminimum width relative to the structure thereof. Since an absoluteminimum of material is removed in forming the trench, the powerrequirements are held to an absolute minimum.

Iclaim:

l. A narrow rock cutting trencher apparatus adapted to be connected to aprime mover and moved across the ground while cutting a narrow trench,said apparatus comprising:

support structure adjustably affixed to and moved by the prime mover;

a disk in the form of a single annular plate member, said disk beingcircumferentially disposed about said structure; means affixed to saidsupport structure rotatably capturing said disk thereto; drive meansaffixed to said disk for imparting rotational motion into said disk;

a plurality of earth receiving buckets, means on said buckets fordigging earth to form a trench, said buckets being attached to andcircumferentially disposed about said disk;

each said bucket having means forming an inlet I thereinto and aninwardly opening discharge; means cooperative with said buckets forenabling earth received within a bucket to be carried from a lowermostposition relative to the trench to an uppermost position relative to thetrench, to thereby enable material removed to form the trench to bedeposited at another location;

each bucket includes means forming a side wall which is bent back uponitself to form a bottom and spaced apart side walls, one of said sidewalls being affixed to said disk, the remaining said side wallterminating in an edge portion which defines part of said dischargeopening; means forming a bulkhead, said bulkhead being arranged normallyto said side walls and forming part of said bucket.

2. The trenching apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bulkhead furtherincludes means by which it is removably affixed to said spaced apartside walls.

3. The trenching apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid means for enablingearth to be transported includes an arc plate;

said are plate being a discontinuous plate which commences near alowermost extremity of said support structure and ends near an uppermostextremity of said support structure;

said are plate being circumferentially disposed about a portion of saiddisk, and having a portion thereof located adjacent to said dischargeopening; whereby:

said arc plate provides a stationary wall member which prevents materialfrom falling from the discharge opening of said bucket.

4. The trenching apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support structurehas a cross-sectional area substantially equivalent to the effectivewidth of the trench being formed; and further including means forming achute, and a screen means;

said chute being laterally arranged with respect to the trench anddisposed in underlying relationship with respect to an uppermost bucket;said screen being placed within said chute; whereby the earth removedfrom the ditch is separated into fine and course material as it flowsthrough the chute.

5. The trenching apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means cooperativewith said buckets for enabling earth to be transported away therefromincludes arc plate means having an edge portion which slidably abuts onesaid side wall of said bucket and another edge portion which slidablyabuts the remaining said side wall of said bucket.

6. A narrow rock cutting trencher apparatus adapted to be connected to aprime mover and to dig a narrow trench as the prime mover moves theapparatus along the ground; said apparatus including a disk in the formof an annular plate member, a supporting structure, earth receivingbucket means circumferentially disposed about said disk;

each bucket includes a bottom and spaced apart side walls, with one ofsaid side walls being affixed to said disk, and the remaining said sidewall terminating in an edge portion which defines part ofa dischargeopening; means forming a bulkhead, said bulkhead being arranged normallyto said side walls and forming a part of said bucket so that a lateralvertical cross-section of the apparatus is substantially equivalent tothe width of the trench being formed;

drive means affixed to an outer marginal edge portion of said disk forimparting rotational motion thereinto; means for rotatably capturing aninner portion of said disk about an outer portion of said supportstructure so as to enable said disk to be rotated about a central axisthereof; are plate means cooperative with said buckets and having anedge portion which slidably abuts said one side wall of said bucket andanother edge portion which slidably abuts the remaining side wall ofsaid bucket for enabling earth received within a bucket to be carried toa location away from the trench while the trench is being dug; acircumferentially extending shield member having a circumferentiallyextending edge portion affixed to the side opposite of the disk to whichsaid bucket is attached, said shield member extending at an acute anglerelative to said disk into overlying relationship relative to said drivemeans. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said arc plate is adiscontinuous plate affixed to said support structure and commences neara lowermost extremityof said support structure and terminates near anuppermost extremity of said support structure;

said arc plate being circumferentlally disposed about a portion of saiddisk, and having a portion thereof located adjacent to said dischargeopening thereby providing a stationary wall member which preventsmaterial from falling from the discharge opening of said bucket.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 and further including means associated withsaid support structure and said bucket for causing at least part of thecontents of the bucket to be removed therefrom as the bucket attains anoverhead position.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 and further including a paddle, meansmounting said paddle to said supporting structure with said paddlehaving a face thereof lying normal to said disk; means by which saidpaddle is adapted to be received within a bucket as the disk is rotatedrelative to said support structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, and further including a chute; a screenformed in said chute; means by which said chute is fixed relative tosaid superstructure, with said chute underlying an uppermost bucket;whereby fine and course material flowing from the buckets are separatedinto two different locations.

1. A narrow rock cutting trencher apparatus adapted to be connected to aprime mover and moved across the ground while cutting a narrow trench,said apparatus comprising: support structure adjustably affixed to andmoved by the prime mover; a disk in the form of a single annular platemember, said disk being circumferentially disposed about said structure;means affixed to said support structure rotatably capturing said diskthereto; drive means affixed to said disk for imparting rotationalmotion into said disk; a plurality of earth receiving buckets, means onsaid buckets for digging earth to form a trench, said buckets beingattached to and circumferentially disposed about said disk; each saidbucket having means forming an inlet thereinto and an inwardly openingdischarge; means cooperative with said buckets for enabling earthreceived within a bucket to be carried from a lowermost positionrelative to the trench to an uppermost position relative to the trench,to thereby enable material removed to form the trench to be deposited atanother location; each bucket includes means forming a side wall whichis bent back upon itself to form a bottom and spaced apart side walls,one of said side walls being affixed to said disk, the remaining saidside wall terminating in an edge portion which defines part of saiddischarge opening; means forming a bulkhead, said bulkhead beingarranged normally to said side walls and forming part of said bucket. 2.The trenching apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bulkhead furtherincludes means by which it is removably affixed to said spaced apartside walls.
 3. The trenching apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means forenabling earth to be transported includes an arc plate; said arc platebeing a discontinuous plate which commences near a lowermost extremityof said support structure and ends near an uppermost extremity of saidsupport structure; said arc plate being circumferentially disposed abouta portion of said disk, and having a portion thereof located adjacent tosaid discharge opening; whereby: said arc plate provides a stationarywall member which prevents material from falling from the dischargeopening of said bucket.
 4. The trenching apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid support structure has a cross-sectional area substantiallyequivalent to the effective width of the trench being formed; andfurther including means forming a chute, and a screen means; said chutebeing laterally arranged with respect to the trench and disposed inunderlying relationship with respect to an uppermost bucket; said screenbeing placed within said chute; whereby the earth removed from the ditchis separated into fine and course material as it flows through thechute.
 5. The trenching apparatus of claim 1 wherein said meanscooperative with said buckets for enabling earth to be transported awaytherefrom includes arc plate means having an edge portion which slidablyabuts one said side wall of said bucket and another edge portion whichslidably abuts the remaining said side wall of said bucket.
 6. A narrowrock cutting trencher apparatus adapted to be connected to a prime moverand to dig a narrow trench as the prime mover moves the apparatus alongthe ground; said apparatus including a disk in the form of an annularplate member, a supporting structure, earth receiving bucket meanscircumferentially disposed about said disk; each bucket includes abottom and spaced apart side walls, with one of said side walls beingaffixed to said disk, and the remaining said side wall terminating in anedge portion which defines part of a discharge opening; means forming abulkhead, said bulkhead being arranged normally to said side walls andforming a part of said bucket so that a lateral vertical cross-sectionof the apparatus is substantially equivalent to the width of the trenchbeing formed; drive means affixed to an outer marginal edge portion ofsaid disk for imparting rotational motion thereinto; means for rotatablycapturing an inner portion of said disk about an outer portion of saidsupport structure so as to enable said disk to be rotated about acentral axis thereof; arc plate means cooperative with said buckets andhaving an edge portion which slidably abuts said one side wall of saidbucket and another edge portion which slidably abuts the remaining sidewall of said bucket for enabling earth received within a bucket to becarried to a location away from the trench while the trench is beingdug; a circumferentially extending shield member having acircumferentially extending edge portion affixed to the side opposite ofthe disk to which said bucket is attached, said shield member extendingat an acute angle relative to said disk into overlying relationshiprelative to said drive means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein saidarc plate is a discontinuous plate affixed to said support structure andcommences near a lowermost extremity of said support structure andterminates near an uppermost extremity of said support structure; saidarc plate being circumferentially disposed about a portion of said disk,and having a portion thereof located adjacent to said discharge openingthereby providing a stationary wall member which prevents material fromfalling from the discharge opening of said bucket.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7 and further including means associated with said supportstructure and said bucket for causing at least part of the contents ofthe bucket to be removed therefrom as the bucket attains an overheadposition.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 and further including a paddle,means mounting said paddle to said supporting structure With said paddlehaving a face thereof lying normal to said disk; means by which saidpaddle is adapted to be received within a bucket as the disk is rotatedrelative to said support structure.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6, andfurther including a chute; a screen formed in said chute; means by whichsaid chute is fixed relative to said superstructure, with said chuteunderlying an uppermost bucket; whereby fine and course material flowingfrom the buckets are separated into two different locations.